Automatic sheet separating apparatus

ABSTRACT

An automatic sheet separating device is disclosed including a pair of feed rollers rotatably mounted in driving relation with respect to each other. One of the feed rollers is rotated at a speed greater than the other to advance a first sheet of a pair passing between said rollers more rapidly than the other sheet of the pair. A roughened roller mounted for rotation in the path of the moving pair of sheets is provided to intercept the lead sheet and to deflect it in another direction, and at the same time, separate it from the more slowly advancing sheet.

United States Patent Seelenbinder [54] AUTOMATIQ SHEET SEPARATHJG APPARATUS [151 3,655,184 Apr.1l, 1972 Primary Examiner-Joseph Wegbreit Assistant Examiner-Bruce H. Stoner, Jr. Attorney-Sol L. Goldstein [5 7] ABSTRACT An automatic sheet separating device is disclosed including a pair of feed rollers rotatably mounted in driving relation with respect to each other. One of the feed rollers is rotated at a speed greater than the other to advance a first sheet of a pair passing between said rollers more rapidly than the other sheet of the pair. A roughened roller mounted for rotation in the path of the moving pair of sheets is provided to intercept the lead sheet and to deflect it in another direction, and at the same time, separate it from the more slowly advancing sheet.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures "b/ I 6 COPY MAKES CONTACT.

WITH SEPARATING ROLL Patented April 11, 1972 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Patented April 11, 1972 3,655,184

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 COPY MAKES CONTACY WIT H SEPARATING ROLL v v I 0 jerrence i @501 at am the other so that one of a 1 AUTOMATIC SHEET SEP T TING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to sheet separating devices and more particularly to devices for separating superimposed original and copy sheets in photocopying machines of the contact printing type.

Conventionally in the use of low cost diazo type, contact printing photocopying machines, a diazo sensitized and original tracing are superimposed and fed into the machine. The sheets are passed about a tubular lamp arrangemerit in the exposure station of the machine to image the light sensitive copy sheet. Upon exiting from the exposure station, the superimposed sheets are manually separated. The original tracing is removed from the machine and the exposed diazo sensitized copy sheet is fed manually back into the developing portion of the photocopy machine.

While the above-described separation of superimposed sheets is, for the most part, satisfactory, the manual separation and refeeding steps by an operator prove to be time consuming and inefficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved sheet separating device for quickly and efiiciently separating superimposed sheets.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a new and improved sheet separating device for use in contact type photocopy machines wherein it is necessary to separate an original document and copy sheet, and to reinsert the copy sheet into the machine for further processing. 1

Briefly, a preferred embodiment of sheet separating device according to the invention comprises a pair of feed rollers rotatably mounted in parallel relation with respect to each other. One of the feed rollers is rotated at a speed greater than pair of superimposed sheets passing into the nip of and between the rollers is advanced more rapidly than the other sheet. A roughened roller member mounted for rotation in spaced relation from the feed rollers is provided to intercept the lead sheet and to deflect and turn the sheet so that the latter is advanced in another direction. The slower advancing sheet of the pair passes alongside the deflector roller.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of the present invention and its organization and construction may be had by referring to the description below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a contact printing type diazo photocopy machine in which a sheet separating device according to the invention is employed for separating a superimposed original tracing and sensitized diazo copy sheet exiting from the exposure station and for reinserting the copy sheet only into the machine for further processing; and

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are side sectional views of the apparatus of FIG. 1 illustrating the progression of the superimposed original tracing and copy sheet from the time of exit from the exposure station to separation and reinsertion of the copy sheet into the machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, wherein like numerals have been employed to designate similar parts throughout the various views, there is illustrated an exposure copy sheet (FIGS. 2-4) mounted for movement on rollers 20, 22, 24, 26 (only rollers 20, 22 being shown in FIG. I) encircles light source 12 to provide rotational movement to the latter in the direction of the arrow (FIGS. 1-4) as the belt is moved in contact therewith. A pair of rollers 28, 30, smaller in diameter than rollers 20, 22, 24, 26, is provided for tensioning the belt 18 so as to be in driving engagement with the outer surface 27 of the cylinder 13. A drive motor (not shown) or other suitable driving means provides rotational movement to the above mentioned rollers.

Conventionally, an original document or tracing 14 and copy sheet 16, which are maintained in a superimposed relation with the leading edges thereof in registration, are fed with the original document being maintained closest to the outer surface 27 of the cylinder 13, into an entrance 32 at the nip of glass cylinder 13 and roller 20. The superimposed sheets are sandwiched between belt 18, and the outer surface 27 of cylinder 13, and carried in the direction of the arrow about cylinder 13. The superimposed sheets leave the exposure station at the exit area 34 at the nip of roller 22 and cylinder 13.

Provided adjacent the exit area 34 of the exposure station 10 is a preferred embodiment of the sheet separating ap paratus 36 according to the invention. The apparatus includes a pair of side plates38, 40, mounted parallel to and spaced from each other (FIG. 1).

Mounted between side plates 38, 40, in parallel alignment with cylinder 13, is a main drive roller 42. The roller 42 includes a central shaft 44, the ends, such as 46, of which extend through apertures, such as 48, provided in plate 38, for rotational mounting thereof. A friction wheel 50 is provided at the end of shaft 44, and is in driving engagement with a similar friction wheel 52 mounted at the end of roller 22 (FIG. I). In this manner the rotational movement of roller 22 is imparted via friction wheels 50, 52 to main drive roller 42 of the separating apparatus 36. Other suitable drive arrangements may be provided if desired.

Also mounted for rotation between plates 38, 40 are feed roller pairs 54, 56, and 58, 60. The rollers of feed roller pair 54, 56 are arranged in parallel relation to roller 42, and each roller includes a continuous, smooth surface of rubber or other suitable resilient material, as in the case of main drive roller 42, and a central shaft 62, 64, respectively, (FIG. 1) the ends of which are received in cut-outs 66, 68 provided in plates 38, 40, respectively. Cut-outs 66, 68 retain the ends of the rollers loosely to permit movement of the rollers during the operation of the device. Roller 54 is in driving engagement with main drive roller 42 and roller 56, by virtue of gravity, is in contacting relation with roller 54. Thus, the rotational movement of drive roller 42 is imparted to feed roller pair 54, 56 to turn the rollers in the direction indicated by the arrows (FIGS. 2-4).

The rollers of feed roller pair 58, 60 are also mounted between side plates 38, 40 in apertures such as 68, 70 provided therein. The rollers are also arranged axially parallel to rollers 42. In the preferred embodiment of the separating apparatus 36 shown in the drawing, rollers 58, 60 each include a central shaft 72, 74 and a plurality of axially spaced rubber tires 76 mounted thereon. The tires 76 of roller 58 are offset from the tires of roller 60 and therefore do not engage each other.

The tires 76 of roller, 58 are in driving engagement with main drive roller 46, and the roller is therefore driven rotationally thereby in the direction indicated by the arrow, at the speed of roller 42.

The roller 60, however, is driven at a speed less than the speed of rollers 38, 54, 56, and 58, in the direction shown by the arrow, by a separate drive source (not shown).

Rollers having a continuous smooth surface of rubber or the like material, such as rollers 54, 56 may be used in place of rollers 58, 60 if desired with equally good success. The latter type of rollers, if used, are likewise driven at different rotational or circumferential speeds.

Upon exiting from the exposure station It) at exit area 34,

the superimposed original l4 and copy sheet 16, with the leading edges thereof still substantially in registration, are carried via curved guide plate 73 (FIGS. 2-4) toward the nip 80 of rollers 58, 60.

Once engaged by the feed rollers 58, 60, the upper sheet, in this case copy sheet 16, is transported at a greater rate or forward speed than lower original sheet 14, due to the difference in the rotational speeds of the rollers 58, 60. Thus, as can be seen in FIG. 2, the leading edge 92 of copy sheet 16 is advanced beyond the leading edge 98 of an original sheet 14.

A second guide plate 82 is provided above the moving sheets l4, 16 to carry the sheets delivered from rollers 58, 60 toward a separator or deflector member, herein taking the form of a roller member 84 having a roughened surface 86' (FIG. I).

The roller surface 86 is preferably of a rough material, such as, for example, cork or the like to provide adequate friction to aid in deflecting the copy sheet 16. The roughened deflector roller 84, like the feed rollers described heretofore, is mounted for rotation at the ends, such as 88, thereof in apertures such as 90, provided in side plates 38, 40 (FIG. 1). Preferably, the roughened roller 84 is also rotatably driven in the direction of the arrow, (FIGS. 2-4). The deflector member may take other forms if desired, such as, for example, a stationary curved member shaped to deflect a sheet engaging the member thereby to change the direction of movement of the sheet, or a column of moving air directed at the moving copy sheet to alter its direction of movement. In either case, the means provided deflects the advancing copy sheet 16 as shown in FIGS. 24. In so doing, the upper copy sheet is ultimately inserted into return path 94 of the separating device 36, to be reinserted into the copying machine for further processing. In the preferred embodiment, the rotating roughened roller 84 contacting the leading edge 92 of copy sheet 16, positively moves copy sheet in the direction of return path 94. The roughened surface 86 of the deflector roller 84 in fact lifts the copy sheet 16 at the leading edge 92 thereof toward another curved guide plate member 96, along which the copy sheet 16 travels to redirect the sheet back into the copying machine.

At the same time, the original document 14, which lags behind the copy sheet 16 due to the slower rotational speed of roller 60, passes arou d the deflector member. The leading edge 98 of the original ocument does not contact the roller surface 86 but passes beneath the roller 84, (FIG. 4) and exits from the separating device 36 and the copying machine itself. Initially, upon engaging the roughened surface 86 of roller 84, the copy sheet buckles (FIG. 3) against the original document 14. This buckling effect aids in deflecting the original away from roller 84, and permits it to pass thereby.

As the reinserted copy sheet passes along return path 94, it is guided by guide member 96 toward the nip 100 of feed rollers 54, 56. The feed rollers carry the separated copy sheet 16 back into the copying machine for developing. A leg 102, of guide member 82, converging with guide member 96 toward the nip 100 of rollers 54, 56, acts as a lower guide for return path 94, and prevents interference of the copy sheet with roller 42.

It should be understood that the sheet separating apparatus according to the invention may be used to equal advantage in environments other than copying machines, wherein there is a need for the separation of superimposed sheet material.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto since many modifications may be made. It is therefore contemplated to cover by the present application any and all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

I. In a copying machine including an exposure station having a rotatably mounted tubular light source about which a su- Fen'rnposed sensitized copyand original are transported for lght imaging the copy shoe in accor ance with mdlcia on said original and a developing station, automatic sheet separating apparatus comprising:

a first pair of feed rollers mounted adjacent said exposure station for transporting said superimposed copy sheet and original in a predetermined direction away from said exposure station, a first one of said first pair of feed rollers having a greater rotational speed than the other roller of said first pair for delivering said copy sheet in said predetermined direction at a greater rate than said original;

a guide member positioned downstream of said first pair of feed rollers for slidingly receiving the lead edge of said faster moving copy sheet;

deflecting means positioned downstream of said guide member, said deflecting means being a continually rotating roller member having a roughened, substantially cylindrical and continuous surface; 7

a guide channel having an entryway and exitway for receiving said copy sheet therein and directing-said copy sheet towards said developing station, the entryway of said channel being located downstream of said deflecting means;

a second pair of feed rollers rotatably mounted adjacent said exitway;

and drive means for imparting rotational movement to said first and second roller pairs;

said guide member guiding the lead edge of said faster moving copy sheet into engagement with said deflecting means causing said copy sheet to buckle and thereby' deflect said slower moving original away from said guide member, said copy sheet being deflected into said guide channel, and said second pair of feed rollers receiving said copy sheet from said guide channel and advancing it to said developing station.

2. A copying machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said first pair of feed rollers include a central shaft portion having a plurality of axially spaced tire members mounted thereon for rotation with said shaft, the tires of one of said rollers being offset with respect to and spaced a substantial distance from the closest adjacent tires of the other of said roller by a distance greater than the width of the tire members, and each of said roller being independently driven in a respective circumferential speed. 

1. In a copying machine including an exposure station having a rotatably mounted tubular light source about which a superimposed sensitized copy and original are transported for light imaging the copy sheet in accordance with indicia on said original and a developing station, automatic sheet separating apparatus comprising: a first pair of feed rollers mounted adjacent said exposure station for transporting said superimposed copy sheet and original in a predetermined direction away from said exposure station, a first one of said first pair of feed rollers having a greater rotational speed than the other roller of said first pair for delivering said copy sheet in said predetermined direction at a greater rate than said original; a guide member positioned downstream of said first pair of feed rollers for slidingly receiving the lead edge of said faster moving copy sheet; deflecting means positioned downstream of said guide member, said deflecting means being a continually rotating roller member having a roughened, substantially cylindrical and continuous surface; a guide channel having an entryway and exitway for receiving said copy sheet therein and directing said copy sheet towards said developing station, the entryway of said channel being located downstream of said deflecting means; a second pair of feed rollers rotatably mounted adjacent said exitway; and drive means for imparting rotational movement to said first and second roller pairs; said guide member guiding the lead edge of said faster moving copy sheet into engagement with said deflecting means causing said copy sheet to buckle and thereby deflect said slower moving original away from said guide member, said copy sheet being deflected into said guide channel, and said second pair of feed rollers receiving said copy sheet from said guide channel and advancing it to said developing station.
 2. A copying machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said first pair of feed rollers include a central shaft portion having a plurality of axially spaced tire members mounted thereon for rotation with said shaft, the tires of one of said rollers being offset with respect to and spaced a substantial distance from the closest adjacent tires of the other of said roller by a distance greater than the width of the tire members, and each of said roller being independently driven in a respective circumferential speed. 